# Anyone else distressed about the 9/11 anniversary stuff? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 8, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668 "2011-09-08T22:59:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/21 "2011-09-10T19:46:54Z")
> [@JuliaSqueezer](#): > > Well, he TRIED to talk a bit about it on \*The View \*yesterday, but Barbara Walters persisted in making it all about Barbara Walters: “Remember, **I** was the first one to interview you after 9-11” and on and on. Rudy smiled indulgently and let her ego run amok. The viewers didn’t learn much. Unfortunately. I think the joke was possibly missed. In the 2008 campaign, it seemed like his entire campaign was “A noun, a verb, and 9/11” as Joe Biden put it. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/22 "2011-09-10T23:22:48Z")
Maybe it will annoy some people to hear it, but I’ve moved on. Of course, I’m not going to forget it. From time to time I watch videos or read about it. But I’ve never been to NYC, or DC, or Shanksville, PA. I don’t personally know anyone who died (though I know people who lost friends, relatives, and co-workers). I don’t care to wallow in it though I have no objection to people to whom it is a big deal putting time and effort into commemorating it. I am also someone who does not approve of some of the thing done in reaction to 9/11. I plan to spend tomorrow having a quiet day at home with my spouse, with little or no TV. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/23 "2011-09-10T23:40:44Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > The only thing about the 9/11 anniversary that fries my bacon is showing the initial reaction by Bush when he’s sitting in that grade school classroom, and an assistant comes up and whispers in his ear. > > I admit, I couldn’t STAND Bush before that happened. But when I saw his LACK of response, I went ballistic. The Administration KNEW that Osama Bin Laden was planning an attack, and that it was imminent. > > No, I don’t think the attack could have been thwarted. Not with the failures in air transportation security. But dammit, the man could have at least showed some shock, horror, or surprise. A HUMAN response! Instead, it was a slight nod of the head, a blanking of the face, and a look that seemed to say, “Yeah, it finally happened.” > > I’m still mad. I’m not going to be able to watch the special George Bush interview that Hubster record > > ~VOW There was nobody there to tell him what to say. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/24 "2011-09-10T23:46:06Z")
> [@JuliaSqueezer](#): > > Well, he TRIED to talk a bit about it on \*The View \*yesterday, but Barbara Walters persisted in making it all about Barbara Walters: “Remember, **I** was the first one to interview you after 9-11” and on and on. Rudy smiled indulgently and let her ego run amok. The viewers didn’t learn much. Unfortunately. And I’m afraid if they don’t somehow curtail her input she’s going to have a Helen Thomas moment (she’s come close) and end a long career on a bad note. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/25 "2011-09-10T23:47:39Z")
People need to be reminded of what happened. Otherwise we’ll get lazy with security and let it happen again. The war ain’t over. There are people out there using every waking moment thinking of ways to kill us. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/26 "2011-09-11T02:03:55Z")
I think the remembrances are appropriate and very sobering. However, I can’t watch more than a few minutes at a time because it is just such a profoundly sad event. I avoid Holocaust movies, too, because I end up in a funk for days afterward. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/27 "2011-09-11T07:10:32Z")
> [@Becky2844](#): > > There was nobody there to tell him what to say. He didn’t _say_ anything, although he made a statement later before leaving the school. **VOW** is apparently disturbed because his clairvoyant abilities allow him to judge Bush’s internal mental reaction based on a brief facial expression. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/28 "2011-09-11T07:27:47Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > The only thing about the 9/11 anniversary that fries my bacon is showing the initial reaction by Bush when he’s sitting in that grade school classroom, and an assistant comes up and whispers in his ear. > > I admit, I couldn’t STAND Bush before that happened. But when I saw his LACK of response, I went ballistic. The Administration KNEW that Osama Bin Laden was planning an attack, and that it was imminent. > > No, I don’t think the attack could have been thwarted. Not with the failures in air transportation security. But dammit, the man could have at least showed some shock, horror, or surprise. A HUMAN response! Instead, it was a slight nod of the head, a blanking of the face, and a look that seemed to say, “Yeah, it finally happened.” > > I’m still mad. I’m not going to be able to watch the special George Bush interview that Hubster recorded. > > ~VOW I am a Republican, but the reason for my comment is not politically motivated. I too was a bit shocked by how calm he remained when told. However after taking a bit of time to think about it I think that he was absolutely correct for the setting he was in. Why panic children? Why, with TV camera’s there give any impression that you are emotional? Personally I want my leaders to be calm and calculating when under pressure. I don’t really think getting up in a panic and running to another room, the airport or anywhere else was going to solve a thing. More than likely the people that needed to be working on the situation were and when the President was told I am positive that there was massive confusion going on. I read the transcripts the other night from the ATC and their conversations with the military. No one put it together right away. The situation was fluid. With that said I will tell you what did bother me at the time. The delay in the President coming on the air to brief the nation. I distinctly remember saying to my wife that “the President needs to go on TV and radio and re-assure the nation.” I found it very unnerving that we didn’t hear anything from the White House for many hours after the attack. But, then again maybe I am just different. I have always stayed calm during a crisis to the point were my attitude could be mistaken for lack of caring. I try never to panic and always at least look like I am in control. Got it from my father, can’t recall him ever being flustered over anything. No matter how difficult or bad the situation I never saw him start talking right away. He always seemed to take a deep breath and think before he gave an opinion. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/29 "2011-09-11T09:24:08Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > Why panic children? Why, with TV camera’s there give any impression that you are emotional? Personally I want my leaders to be calm and calculating when under pressure. I don’t really think getting up in a panic and running to another room, the airport or anywhere else was going to solve a thing. But there are other options besides being completely unemotional and panicking. Witness how Norway’s leaders behaved after our twin terror attacks two months ago - they were shaken, they even cried in front of the TV cameras, but as they were crying they rolled up their sleeves and got back to work. I can understand not wanting to cry or show signs of shock in a room full of schoolchildren. Kids have a hard time dealing with adults showing a loss of control. Far better to leave quietly and let adults they know and trust tell them what is happening. I don’t understand the President not excusing himself and leaving sooner. However, I can excuse that as a bad choice made on a very strange day - people often make bad decisions when confronted with an unexpected, new, and frightening situation. Bush’s actions after leaving the classroom were at least as strange as his decision to wait there for so long. If he believed the situation was under control, why didn’t he order Air Force One to fly straight back to Washington? If he believed the situation was NOT under control, why order Air Force One to take off without a fighter escort? What it looks like to me is that Bush was, indeed, confused, frightened, and perhaps even panicky, although on the surface he appeared calm. And compared to that, grown men crying and hugging on TV is downright comforting. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/30 "2011-09-11T11:43:15Z")
Another Bush bashing thread. Yippee. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/31 "2011-09-11T14:27:13Z")
Not at all. It was a very poignant event in my life, as being born in '73, I wasn’t around to witness much in the way of human cataclysm, war or terrorism on such a profound scale. Looking back after a decade I feel is good to gain some perspective. Also, with regard to the opening of the 9/11 memorial in NYC and the ceremonies, now is a good time to reflect, yet continue to move on. ---
**Author:** ![JuliaSqueezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/82dd89/32.png) [@JuliaSqueezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JuliaSqueezer)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/32 "2011-09-11T14:32:48Z")
> [@Becky2844](#): > > And I’m afraid if they don’t somehow curtail her input she’s going to have a Helen Thomas moment (she’s come close) and end a long career on a bad note. Isn’t she co-producer of the show? I don’t see her ever curtailing herself. Notice when others are speaking how she lifts her hand slightly and everyone clams up, often mid-sentence? Barbara has total control of who speaks and when, and obviously does not like to share the stage. It’s unfortunate, because it has potential to be a much better show. Sorry if this is too OT. ---
**Author:** ![Feyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/fbc32d/32.png) [@Feyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feyrat)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/33 "2011-09-11T16:21:07Z")
My problem isn’t people remembering or memorializing, but the obvious fetishizing that’s going on. It’s gross and tacky. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/34 "2011-09-11T17:12:53Z")
My wife could have written the OP. We change the channel if there’s a chance they will show the footage of the towers burning or collapsing. Keep in mind, my mom was in the south tower (she got out) and the whole thing made my wife’s MS go ballistic, so I sure understand where she is coming from. There’s a difference between reminding people what happened, and disaster porn. It would be like showing the Zapruder film repeatedly on 11/22/73. ---
**Author:** ![Feyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/fbc32d/32.png) [@Feyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feyrat)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/35 "2011-09-11T17:26:06Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > There’s a difference between reminding people what happened, and disaster porn. Oh my god this. This is EXACTLY it. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/36 "2011-09-11T17:34:37Z")
> [@Feyrat](#): > > My problem isn’t people remembering or memorializing, but the obvious fetishizing that’s going on. It’s gross and tacky. Right, I hate that too, but it’s been going on for 10 years. Today’s an excuse for all the righteous outragers and UberAmericans™ to get all in a tizzy again. They’re almost as bad as the Truthers. I didn’t know anyone who was lost in the attacks, but I have several friends and coworkers who lived/worked in NYC who told me their stories about watching the whole thing unravel as they watched out their office windows. I’ll never quite understand that kind of fear; to witness something so terrifying right outside where you live and work. So, someone like me, who after the initial month of shock just watching the coverage on TV, distanced himself from it all as much as possible (until now), I can’t imagine what’s going through my friends in NYC today. ---
**Author:** ![MeinView](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@MeinView](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeinView)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/37 "2011-09-11T18:23:19Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > He was the first American who _forgot_ about 9/11! 91.1 years from now _everyone_ who lived on that day would have forgotten about it. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/38 "2011-09-11T18:57:54Z")
> [@MeinView](#): > > 91.1 years from now _everyone_ who lived on that day would have forgotten about it. Why do you say that? ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/39 "2011-09-11T19:48:59Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I think the remembrances are appropriate and very sobering. However, I can’t watch more than a few minutes at a time because it is just such a profoundly sad event. I avoid Holocaust movies, too, because I end up in a funk for days afterward. This is how I feel. The day sucked so badly. The entire week and and month sucked so badly. I hate to be reminded of it. Early September used to be such a nice time of year for me. I used to look forward to the cooling temps and the pleasant sense fall is about to begin. Now all I think about during this week are ashes I saw from my house in Staten Island the horrible feeling of terror that followed. I hear the voice of the neighbor down the block keening for her firefighter husband and the smell of smoke we all knew were human remains. I try to turn off the television and think about something else because the sadness overwhelms me otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668/40 "2011-09-11T22:22:00Z")
Not so much distressed, as annoyed. Swore off facebook and tv for the day - I hate America. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-distressed-about-the-9-11-anniversary-stuff/595668.md?page=3)